Name of the Procedure:

Self care functional limitation, current status, at therapy episode outset and at reporting intervals (HCPCS Code G8987)

Summary

G8987 is a code used by healthcare professionals to report a patient's limitations in self-care functions, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and other daily activities, at the start of a therapy episode and at regular intervals during therapy. This helps in monitoring the progress and adjusting the care plan accordingly.

Purpose

The procedure aims to assess and track improvements or declines in a patient's ability to perform self-care activities during therapy. This is crucial for patients undergoing rehabilitation or those with chronic conditions affecting their daily living skills. The goal is to ensure the patient can maintain or regain independence in self-care activities.

Indications

• Patients with injuries, surgeries, or conditions affecting mobility and daily functioning.
• Individuals recovering from strokes, fractures, or undergoing post-operative rehabilitation.
• Chronic conditions like arthritis or multiple sclerosis that impact self-care abilities.

Preparation

• No specific preparation is typically required for the assessment itself.
• Prior to the initial assessment, patients may undergo physical examinations or other diagnostic tests to understand their baseline functional status.

Procedure Description

1. Initial Assessment: A healthcare provider evaluates the patient's ability to perform self-care tasks. This may involve asking the patient about their daily activities and observing their performance.
2. Documentation: The findings are documented using the G8987 code to indicate the current status of self-care functional limitation.
3. Ongoing Monitoring: The same process is repeated at regular intervals during the therapy episode to track changes in the patient's self-care abilities.
4. Adjustments: Based on the assessment, the care plan may be adjusted to better meet the patient's needs.

Tools and Equipment:

• Checklists or scales to rate the level of difficulty in performing tasks.
• Assistive devices used by the patient, if any.

Anesthesia or Sedation: Not applicable.

Duration

The initial assessment and subsequent evaluations typically take between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the patient's condition and complexity of their limitations.

Setting

• Outpatient clinics
• Rehabilitation centers
• Hospitals
• Home health settings

Personnel

• Physical Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Rehabilitation Nurses
• Other trained healthcare professionals

Risks and Complications

• The procedure itself carries minimal risk as it is a non-invasive assessment.
• Emotional discomfort if the patient finds it difficult to discuss their limitations.

Benefits

• Clear documentation and tracking of a patient's progress.
• Tailored therapy plans that adapt to the patient's changing needs.
• Potentially faster recovery and greater independence in daily activities.

Recovery

• N/A (specific to assessment, not a treatment procedure).

Alternatives

• Other functional assessment tools and codes may be used based on clinical judgment.
• Self-reported questionnaires like the Barthel Index or the Functional Independence Measure (FIM).

Patient Experience

• The patient may feel initial discomfort discussing their limitations but generally find the process helpful for their recovery.
• Pain management or comfort measures are typically not required as the assessment is non-invasive.